Formation of highly luminescent nearly monodisperse carbon quantum dots via emulsion-templated carbonization of carbohydrates

Abstract

Highly luminescent nearly monodisperse carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are synthesized by facile emulsion-templated carbonization of low cost and non toxic carbohydrates excluding the size selection procedure. The present method is further combined with in situ nitric acid treatment to offer high quantum yields up to 53% which, to our best knowledge, is unprecedented in the past.